PORTLAOISE AFC was the venue for the Mid Leinster Finals of the An Post FAI Schools 5-a-side competition today (May 15)
The competition caters for senior cycle students (boys and girls) in Primary School with five divisions to suit all school sizes: While FAI Schools encourage boys and girls to play on the same team, there is also a separate competition for girls’ schools:
Schools from Laois, Offaly, Kildare and Kilkenny competed to represent Mid Leinster at the Leinster Provincial Finals in the MDL Grounds, Navan next Wednesday, May 23:
Each County winner was selected to participate in the Regional qualifiers in the hope that they could continue winning ways and progress further afield this year
The “A” Schools Cup started off with Rosenallis NS (Laois) and Geashill NS (Offaly) going head to head, Rosenallis running out 2/1 winners in a highly competitive encounter:
St: Leonard’s NS (Kilkenny) from Dunnamaggin overcame Geashill NS (Offaly) 3/2:
After some very competitive games the deciding game between St: Leonard’s (Kilkenny) and Rosenallis (Laois) showed there was very little between the sides: Rosenallis scored a few minutes in and upheld the huge pressure being applied by the Kilkenny side to hold out for the two points needed to send them through to the Leinster Finals for the first time in their Schools history:
The “B” Schools Cup competition again came down to the wire between three teams in the group: The second game of the group stages played by St: Joseph’s NS (Kildare) and St: Mary’s NS (Kilkenny) was a decisive game with St: Joseph’s NS (Kildare) winning by the narrowest of margins 3/2:
St: Mary’s NS (Kilkenny) didn't take long to pick themselves up and defeated St: Francis of Clara 6/2 to pick up two points: St: Joseph’s (Kildare) drew 2/2 with Ballylynan (Laois) just before St: Mary’s had a comprehensive victory over the Laois School defeating them 7/1:
All eyes were on the last game as three schools could still top the tables depending on results: The pressure placed on St: Joseph’s (Kildare) didn't tell and they got a 3/0 win to top the group on five points:
Kildare continued their domination of the Mid Leinster Finals when they took 2 early points to put them out in front after defeating Gealscoil Osrai 5/1 just after St: Paul’s (Laois) and Edenderry BNS played out a thrilling 4/4 draw:
Clane and St: Paul’s also played out a goal’s galore game which finished 3/3:
Coming into the last game, exciting prospects ensued if the final game finished in a draw all three teams would be all square on points:
Knowing what was at stake Clane turned up the heat claiming an impressive 4/0 win over a tired Edenderry to top the table in what was a fantastic contest with some excellent football played in the “C” section for large Schools:
Goals were hard to come by in the Girls “A” Cup Finals with 3 goals being the most scored in any game:
An impressive North Kildare Educate Together dominated the group winning all three games with some skilful players dazzling their talents amongst the other teams: Nothing could separate S:N Moin Ruadh (Kilkenny) and Durrow NS (Offaly) with both teams finishing in joint second place after they played out a scoreless draw: With NKET averaging an impressive two goals per game they march on to the Leinster Finals next week:
The Girls “B” Cup competition showed a resemblance to the Girls “A” competition with tight defensive teams on display that didn't leak many goals:
The first two games between Geashill NS and Ballylynan finished 1/0 with the same results for Scoil Mochua against Gealscoil Osrai:
Scoil Mochua another Kildare team continued on to win all their remaining games which meant they were the fourth Kildare team that will compete in the next stage of the competition, THE LEINSTER FINALS next Wednesday in the MDL Grounds, Navan (May 23)
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